Carter insisted military options would be used to “bolster the security of our friends and allies in the region, including Israel,” and that tens of thousands of US ground troops in the Gulf region are going “full speed ahead”in that direction.

Carter is planning to visit Israel next week, something the White House is touting as proof of US military cooperation with Israel. With Israel railing against the nuclear pact, the idle talk of a US attack was seen as an effort to placate Israeli leadership that the deal doesn’t necessarily foil their efforts to spark a war with Iran.

At the same time, it’s virtually unthinkable that the US would actually sign a deal with Iran one day and attack them the next, irrespective of the more pro-Israel narrative such claims put forward. The posturing on about the threat to attack both harms Iran’s trust that the deal is sincere and is ultimately dishonest, since the US naturally isn’t going to attack Iran at this point.

Author: Jason Ditz

Doesn't Obama have a chief of staff for crying out loud? Someone needs to pull this administration together. It seems like every goof can go out there and say whatever the heck occurs to him.

Good grief, why does every other week some US official have to make a pilgrimage on his knees to israel?

curmudgeonvt

…Denis McDonough. Regardless, Obama is the one who needs to get a hold of his own cabinet. From day 1 he has allowed his appointees to make pronouncements that seem to be designed to confuse the issue and obfuscate the fact that Obama doesn't have a clue how to run his office.

moi

I did and do thoroughly dislike Dubya, but Obama is clueless when it comes to wielding power. At least Dubya made it clear he was the "decider."

curmudgeonvt

um…yeah, even when he was generally always wrong. But he decided…the current occupant doesn't even do that – or walks back his decisions when confronted by Congress …or Netanyahoo.

RickR30

Except he wasn't. Cheney was running the real government.

follyofwar

Ash Carter is known to be very hawkish. Maybe he's a double agent put in office to kill the deal. He sounds like another Victoria Nuland, whose husband is the neocon's neocon.

RickR30

He is? I get more the impression that he's just a puppet. He looks so out of place every time he's on stage.

turkicvoice

Satanyahu is a warmonger.

turkicvoice

I hope you all see Israel for what it is, a sophisticated terrorist organization.
No more then a bunch of war mongers living off the back of wars….

let me help you all get america back!!

Israel did 9/11 – All the Proof in the World

Jesse Ventura Talks Libertarian Bid For President In 2016 …

if you have some more time
Who will be US President in 2016 – Jesse Ventura on CNN Piers Morgan

tumblin' tom

Run Jesse, run!

andyoldlabour

The most historic talks in recent history and he makes a statement like that???

follyofwar

Did Carter go rogue? Or did he make that statement with Obama's permission?

anytime

History have proved the US was never an honest broker.

moi

Right. Just ask the Native Americans.

John Ellis

Funny how time can turn things up-side-down, for in the beginning the early Christians were stoned to death by Israel, the major contention being, “Jesus said… Moses gave you the law ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ But now I give you a new Command, do not use force to overcome evil. If they strike you on the right cheek turn to them the other.”

So, comes now the Zionist religion, where Jews and Christians fellowship together and none would dare to say that they must ever turn the other cheek.

jojo archers

Iraq Libya made deals to remove sanctions and threats of invasions. Once both regimes accepted to remove their defenses and allow UN inspectors—bombed to smithereens
Iran has made a great mistake. Another sinister deal in the making.

Joe Hill

It certainly is a sinister deal, just like a shop owner "negotiating" with the Mafia to pay them not to burn the shop. I hardly think the shop owner is jumping with joy that maybe they won't be burned out this week.

moi

"At the same time, it’s virtually unthinkable that the US would actually sign a deal with Iran one day and attack them the next…"

You're kidding me if you really believe that.

Farflungstar

Is this why Hagel was "retired"? Because he isn't a career armchair warrior shooting his stupid mouth off whenever it suited him? This Carter jerkoff is a joke – a cardboard tough guy who probably ran from every fistfight he ever had in his life. Read his Wiki bio – it SCREAMS career wonk and pansy.

Monty Ahwazi

President Obama, please fire his ass and through him under the bus!

Monty Ahwazi

My posts for Mr. Ditz don’t get posted again!!!????

[moderator’s note: Actually, they do. But when they get caught in our spam filters, they don’t get posted until I approve them, which may be a little bit (moderating comments at Antiwar.com is not my full-time job — I try to get by every hour or two) – TLK]

jeff_davis

Talk tough, persuade Israel that we're ready to do what needs to be done to protect them, reassure them that the Iranian deal does not endanger them. Good cop bad cop. The height of diplomatic sophistication.

El Tonno

> we're ready to do what needs to be done to protect them

I wasn't aware that we are seeking regime change in Tel Aviv.

If the Israels get wind of that they will go all Entebbe on the US Embassy.

Rightster

Another threat to attack Iran. Between the US and Israel an aggressive statement is made almost weekly. And then they claim Iran threatens Israel?

Leo Lafontaine

It is clear that the US will not 'betray' Israel. But it is not clear whether the US will or will not betray Iran. Israelis and their supporters have many ways of getting American politicians to do their bidding. Iago (Netanyahu) is on the move and Othello (Obama) better watch his back.

Harry

Gosh Ash, does that mean the Pentagon would be prepared to attack Greece on Germany's behalf also?

Rightster

About as stupid as the US attacking Iran on Israel's behalf, would be the US attacking China on Taiwan's behalf. The only difference being that Taiwan was a faithful ally that allows all of its people to vote in national elections, unlike apartheid Israel.

General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned – Seven Countries In Five Years

"This is a memo that describes how we're going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran." I said, "Is it classified?" He said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Well, don't show it to me." And I saw him a year or so ago, and I said, "You remember that?" He said, "Sir, I didn't show you that memo! I didn't show it to you!"

General Wesley Clark Asked About 7 Country War Plan

William Fuller

Ash Carter may be highly intelligent in some areas, such as his own field, but he is an absolute ignoramus about everything else. In my opinion he has crossed the line with such comments and should be fired immediately! Now! Pronto! Chop chop! He should be forcefully reminded that the oath he took requires that he defend the U.S., not Israel. To attack any country for the sake of Israel is treason. If our soldiers, sailors, and airmen have to die in some future combat, it should be in defense of America, not some foreign country. I believe that Americans would be outraged if their sons and daughters are ordered to give their lives for any country other than the U.S. Israeli supporters strive endlessly to make it appear that America and Israel are one and the same, and a complicit MS press is guilty of treason too.

lana lulu speers

So now the Pentagon just declared war on lran after all the threats from lran they been making to nuke America someone finally came forward and threatened those bastards back? Good job and about time US showed some balls! Whoo whoo!